Ireland's drinking culture

Dear God, here we go again, another guilt trip.
I for one am getting pretty sick of the constant onslaught of this kind of crap. If we really want to solve Ireland's drinking problems then we need to get to the root of our social issues - people here like getting locked because they're more relaxed and less inhibited, people in other countries don't as much because they're not as inhibited to begin with.

Foreign girls come to Ireland and are amazed at how shy Irish lads are unless they're plastered. I've heard this from numerous women from numerous different countries over the years - why is this? Where does it come from?

Price controls and media blitzes condemning drinking aren't going to solve the problem - we need to find out why people need to be drunk in order to not feel self conscious, why this is worse in Ireland than in other countries, and what we can do to fix it. Otherwise it will continue, and if drink is restricted, raised in price or banned, people will look to other inhibition-killing drugs instead. It's not going to work.

Raise a generation of un-inhibited Irish people and you'll raise a generation who don't need such massive amounts of alcohol as a social crutch.

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Foreign girls come to Ireland and are amazed at how shy Irish lads are unless they're plastered. I've heard this from numerous women from numerous different countries over the years - why is this? Where does it come from?

they do love us though

Omackeral wrote: »

This is the absolute truth. Last friday, my girlfriend and I decided to have a little date night. We said we'd go bowling and went on out way to the Leisureplex in Stillorgan. When we arrived about 9pm, there was a security man on the door. He was like "are ya ok there folks?". To which I replied we were just heading for a game for two. He said you need beer to come in. I was gobsmacked, thought he was just being ironic as in opposite to what a doorman would say. But he wouldnt let us in. Apparently it was Bring Your Own Beer night and you had to bring in alcohol to get in! We tried the one in Tallaght after that and it was the same craic.

No having sober fun you wholesome kids!

Should have went to late night mass.

minidazzler wrote: »

Your body gets used to stout and you don't get black runny sh1ts as much once you do get used to it. You gotta power through.

11.68 litres a year of pure alcohol would be roughly 9 pints a week each.... I'm averaging a bit over double that, as are most of the people I work with and my outside of work friends. I'm doing my bit, ARE YOU?

Jesus sure on a quiet weekend I'll get close to 9 pints without even going out. 4-5 cans after work on a Friday relaxing in front of the TV. Same again Saturday if I don't go out.

On a busy weekend of a Friday and Saturday night and watching football on Saturday and Sunday in the local would put you way over that.

Our drink culture is a real shame. I use to think and make my own excuses for my drinking by saying it's due to the weather. Once the sun comes out, we go right to the pub or off license. There is no excuse, we're just a nation with alcohol problems

jane82 wrote: »

Did at least 42 a week for ten years. Not a bother on me. Mostly sober now.
You young folk have no idea what the human body is capable of. Dont be passing on government figures stay away from the spirits you be grand. Enjoy your youth.

:eek:

That's 6 pints a day! Were you ever sober in that 10 years?

jane82 wrote: »

Yes from about 12 in the day till 8 at night.

You don't ever wish you had that time back? were you able to work and maintain a career while drinking at that hour? Or are you saying you were sober from 12-8?

I've got an aunt who's a drunk. She works from 4am-1pm. Get's home at 1:30pm and drinks until 7:00pm every single day. Has been doing that for over 30 years. Her health is awful though. It's a miracle she's still alive. She doesn't get hangovers at all, says she hasn't since she was younger...she's up and ready to roll every day.